English
elvan
Elvan may come from Cornish elven ‘spark’.
- Cornishmodernelven‘spark’uncertain
- Englishtodayelvan
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Cornishmodernelven‘spark’uncertain
- Englishtodayelvan
The story
From a Cornish word, perhaps Cornish elven, elvan (‘spark’) because the hard rock could be struck to spark fire.
Linked words
through Latin elementum ‘one of four elements that composed the world’
Today it means
adj Of or relating to certain veins of feldspathic or porphyritic rock crossing metalliferous veins in the mining districts of Cornwall.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Cornish elven / elvan